Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 20:22:04 GMT -5
She couldn't blame Viktor for keeping it locked up when it was hurting his men; but he shouldn't blame the dragon for trying to hurt them. "He was scared. Wouldn't you be? Waking up in a strange place, not understanding what was happening to you, and only strangers around?" She could relate, for obvious reasons. "A wolf pup would've reacted the same way, they just can't breathe fire." She pointed out. Tame creatures, like dogs or horses, might not lash out when taken away from their mothers, but wild things reacted differently. They tried to fight.
She listened to his explanation about how he had come to have a baby dragon in his dungeon, pausing in her eating to look down at the little creature curled up in her lap. Poor thing. No mother to even try to get it back, as her own was trying so hard to get her back. No wonder it had been suffering so much when she found it. "Maybe next time you try to tame a wild thing, you should try kindness instead of the lash." Syren would rather be loved than feared; that was why the dragon took so well to her, where it tried to hurt others. It helped that it could understand she didn't seek to do it harm, though.
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 20:43:29 GMT -5
"I have; once or twice; woken up in the place I know I had not fallen sleep in. I believe even you did once." When he kidnapped her; and brought her here. "Yet we remained calm enough to handle ourselves with care. Animals lack the knowlage to think as we do." She had spoken of wanting to be loved and not feared; and he wondered who would fear her? Her dragon yes; but herself alone?
"They do not know love; or loyalty. They rely on their mother; and then they leave her. You can speak to animals; and they reply on you. Yet if it could escape; it would leave you. If you died would it mourn? Even Artemis who replies on me for ever meal she eat; would not notice if another too my place. I am known so she comes to me; if I was gone another would be known to her. It is what separates us from the beast outside the walls."
"I think they rather be feared; then loved." So help soften what he knew was a harsh truth for her to hear; he leaned forward and spoke in a softer voice. "If it helps; I do not think you are feared here; and if you wished to be loved; then you know where to find me at night."
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 21:22:34 GMT -5
She gave him an unamused look when he compared the dragon's situation to theirs. "How many times do I have to say it? He's a baby! Of course he didn't understand what was going on." He couldn't speak to ask where he was, or what the men around him wanted. "He only knows humans to be a threat, something he was to avoid. Then he woke up surrounded by them, unable to understand what was going on or what they wanted." Dragons couldn't be trained like dogs or other animals. They were too smart for that.
When he spoke of how they didn't know love, or loyalty, she gave him a dead-pan look that said something along the lines of 'are you serious?' Did he really think he understood the minds of animals better than one who could touch them? "You're wrong," she said simply, and then called out to the bird he spoke of so flippantly, who he claimed knew no loyalty or love for him. Lifting the dragon, she stood up, placing the sleeping creature on her chair, and she went to the window, opening it just long enough for Artemis to come inside, ignoring the burst of cold air before she pulled it closed again.
She stroked the bird's feathers down softly, calming her as she compelled the hawk to think of what she needed; what Syren had found during her first few weeks here, what had convinced her not to regard him simply as the thug she had first thought of him. "Animals don't think in words...but in images, sounds, scents, and emotions. There are no lies in the mind of an animal." She explained as she moved closer to the king, this would be easier if she was close to both of them. "This is what Artemis thinks of you."
She closed her eyes, to focus on linking her powers together; the ability to read the mind of an animal, and to project her thoughts into the mind of another. She wouldn't be able to do it for long, but she ought to be able to do it for long enough to make her point. A bird's thoughts were mainly in colors and images, but the emotions attached to him were strong. She projected the bird's perspective into his mind, her view of him, images of hunting with him, of soaring high in the air where escape would be only so easy, but seeing him far below and instead of escaping, feeling compelled to return. Loyalty. Of joy, when she perched on his wrist and he gave her scraps of meat, or gently smoothed her feathers. Of fear, when she saw a dragon approaching and screeched to warn him, afraid to see him dead, and of elation and pride when she saw that he was safe because of her. Syren showed him as much as she could, before her powers weakened her, and she drew in a sharp breath, breaking the connection. She looked up at the Winter King, out of breath from the effort, and said simply. "She loves you."
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 22:39:28 GMT -5
She claimed he was gone; and Viktor fought the urge to shake his head at her innocence. He had not planned to continue the debate on; for her abilities blinded her to the realities of this world. She could make her mind known to animals; and because of that she assumed they were alike in her thinking.
She stood; and forced habit had him rising to his feet as well. Not only because of the fact that she left the man eater beside him; or that manners declared he stand; but because she opened the windows. Artemis came in and he did not appear surprised. He knew of her powers; calling his bird was something he knew she could do. How his bird got outside was a mystery; but he knew animals were smart. He also knew that they did not have complex thinking.
Nor was he worried for the sharp claws of Artemis to harm her arm; for she wore his coat and the selves of such were sewn to protect his arm from the claws. Moving around her chair; and giving it a wide circle to avoid walking side it; he began to cross to her.
That was when he saw things; not with his eyes but his mind. Invading things that could not have come from a girl who'd never been on a hunt in the mountains. His steps faltered a few feet from her; and one of his hands reached blindly out to grasp the back of the chair; as if it was the only thing that kept him standing.
When it was over; he wasn't sure which to foucse on; the powers that he had not known about; the things she had shown him and what they could mean; or the fact that he now knew why someone would fear her.
Could she know his thoughts? Had she just forgotten to tell him such things? Could she just enter into his mind whenever she wanted? He knew Mages held respect for their powers; and that was why no one feared them other then the High Mountains who judged everyone. But she was not raised a Mage; and Viktor was growing wary of these discoveries. He could not even try to single out the thoughts of what she had shown him meant for his favored pet.
Watching her as she struggled to catch her breath; Viktor took a step backward; and struggled to keep his mind clear. Though to have to watch one's own thoughts proved trying and impossible. "It appears you know quite a bit; Lady Summer." About a good deal more then she let on.
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 22:53:56 GMT -5
Syren hadn't thought about what he might think of this new aspect of her powers; he knew she could speak with animals, he knew she could move things with her mind, but until now, he hadn't known about her ability to enter the mind of another. She couldn't know what they thought, but she could show them what she wished. She'd had no reason to show him before now, and no reason to tell him, either. She hadn't considered that he might be threatened by this ability, not when he felt he had nothing to fear from the powers he knew about.
But using her abilities that much took its toll; especially when she was using two of her powers at once. She smiled softly when he finally agreed that she knew quite a bit. "Maybe you ought to listen to me a little more, then." Syren told him, catching her breath before she moved back to the window to let Artemis return from where she'd come from; the bird was restless in the dining room. Closing it, she turned back to face the Winter King, curious about what else he thought about what he'd seen.
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 21, 2013 23:47:41 GMT -5
Viktor watched her and worked on keeping his mind clear; which as it turned out was the hardest damn thing to do. He was thinking; about not thinking; about thinking. The more he worked at not thinking; the more he thought about what he wasn't supposed to be thinking about. He grew tired of the game the same moment he started it. "So it seems;" He had not however; heard her say she could enter minds as she wished; THAT he was sure would not have slipped past his memory. It was something; that one tended to not forget.
He was tempted to walk away; give his mind a moment to think about this without her near; but Viktor was not a coward; despite the words she hurled at him on their first meeting. "I think I would not have forgotten it; had you said you could enter someone's mind." That she could just make them see things; and see what she finds. Later he might think on the thoughts of his favored pet; however he was more focused on what she actuality do with her gifts then how much his pet liked it when he was around. "It seems that you not only know more then you let on; but you hide more then you tell."
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 0:34:16 GMT -5
Syren watched Viktor's face with a puzzled expression, surprised by his silence. Well, at least she'd finally found a way to keep him quiet! When he did speak, it was abrupt, and regrettably, not an admission of how very wrong he was and how he was going to heed her wisdom from now on. Pity. She decided to let him work through...whatever he was struggling with, and returned to the table to eat. She had been hungry before she decided to use her powers... now she was famished. She lifted the dragon back into her lap before she resumed eating.
She had just taken a bite when he spoke again, and she paused in the middle of chewing to look at him, a little bit guiltily. Oops. She swallowed, considering how she could explain that. "I didn't have a reason to tell you." She answered honestly, why would she explain her magic to someone who was holding her prisoner? She knew she shouldn't even feel guilty, that she didn't owe him honesty or explanations, and yet, guilt crept in regardless. She fluttered her eyelashes innocently, automatically getting ready to talk or flirt or cry her way out of trouble if he was angry. [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 20:20:39 GMT -5
She did not have a reason to tell him. That was her reason; for not telling him. He didn't like it; and it was evident in how he grew still; and stared at her rather then try to be charming. She should have told him that she knew what he was thinking; if only so he could have thought more dirtier thoughts around her rather then about his plans! How many other secrets did the damn woman have?
"I have been a fair man up til now;" Expect for the kidnapping bit; "You ran away; and attempted to freeze yourself to death; and I did not lock you away." As he threatened to do; "You run away from my guards; and I do not put you in the cells under lock and key;" Like he threatened to do; "You visit a man eating beast behind my back; and I gift it too you!" Sometimes he forgot he was not his guest; this was not a game for her; and that she had no choice in staying here. That he gave her no choice. It was easy to forget sometimes with her; but then she knew that. "One day you are going to push me--" He left the words unsaid; but the phrase too far; hung there.
"My thoughts are my own; stay out of my head."
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 22:58:13 GMT -5
Syren pursed her lips in a slightly hurt way as he listed her trespasses against him, they both knew that she had started doing all those things firstly as a way to annoy him, and then when she learned how it amused him, she continued to do it for both of their entertainment. And now he claimed he was being fair? "Fair?" She repeated after a moment, blinking her long eyelashes at him and setting aside her utensils. "You call dragging me to this frozen wasteland and expecting me to be a good little girl who does as she's told, fair?" She wasn't so concerned with not getting into trouble now, her tone getting increasingly fiery.
"You keep me here and then tell me I should be grateful that you don't do worse; that you don't lock me up in a cell to freeze, that you don't let your men rape me, what's next, are you going to threaten to take my food away, too?! I don't owe you anything! If it weren't for you then I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be in danger of freezing to death, I wouldn't need protection from your criminals, I wouldn't need to look for companionship in the form of a beast! Don't pretend that you're my savior for keeping me in a pretty cage when we both know that you're my jailer!" She stood up as she spoke, her voice rising in volume as she listed off the things he had threatened her with, and placing the dragon on the table so she could turn and face him. She was tired of being threatened into compliance; if he was going to throw her in a cell he ought to just do it.
When he told her to stay out of his head, she looked at him with derisive confusion. "I can't see your thoughts... If I could do you really think I would have apologized earlier, if I had known you were planning on giving me the dragon?" Of course she wouldn't have. That was a weakness she wouldn't have let him see, had she thought she had any other choice besides begging for the creature's life. [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 23, 2013 18:58:34 GMT -5
Viktor ignored most of what she said; and not because he did not agree with her; for he knew that he had done his fair share of unfair thing; but so had she. He could have made things worse for her; but he had played nice; because he was amused with her antics. Going into the debate about being fair; would only lead them into an argument; and he was currently more focused on her powers then on her opinions.
She could not read his thoughts? Viktor stared at her disbelieving for a moment; trying to think of something he knew would get a reaction out of her; and when none came he realized she spoke the truth. How could she not read his mind but make him see things? "What exactly are you able to do; little Mage?" He asked in a slow; but calmer voice as he stepped closer to where she now stood. He wanted it spelled out; all of it. It was time he knew; since it looked like she would be here much longer than expected thanks to her mother's failures at getting her back. "Speak to animals I know; push over chairs. What else lurks in that head of yours?"
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 23, 2013 21:27:47 GMT -5
Syren folded her arms across her chest, waiting for him to yell back at her, or drag her down to the dungeons, or do something, but instead he just gave her a skeptical look and stared at her. When he finally did speak, it wasn't what she expected him to say, and she furrowed her brow at him in frustration, huffing slightly as he seemed to be regaining his composure just as she was ready to lose hers. The way he dismissed her abilities made her narrow her eyes dangerously, before she drew in a deep breath to calm herself.
Looking up at him, a wicked gleam came to her eyes as she decided not to simply tell him about her powers... not out loud, anyway. -'I can make you hear my thoughts, but I can't see what you think.'- She spoke directly into his mind, raising her eyebrows and keeping her lips pressed together in a wry smile so there would be no confusion. "For which I can only be grateful. I don't want to see what goes on in that dirty mind of yours." She added, a little bit teasingly, her anger ebbing away as quickly as it had come. [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 25, 2013 21:29:10 GMT -5
Viktor was not sure he approved of her using her powers to tell him; when words have done just damn fine. When the voice sounded in his head; he fought the urge to look behind him; or around him to make sure no one was standing by. Only his pride kept him from moving. It was something at least; knowing she could not invade his mind; and know his thoughts.
"We heard rumors that you had magic;" He admitted; waiting to see if she would continue with explaining what gifts she had or if these were all of them. "They failed to include everything you had done so far." He had known about the animals; then when she awakened in her new chambers he had learned first hand about her powers of pushing over chairs. Now again; first hand; had learned of her mind games. "According to the story; you were not born with them." Or not all of them.
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 25, 2013 23:29:15 GMT -5
Seeing his reaction to her magic almost made her giggle in amusement, but she managed to keep her composure, just as he did. When he spoke of rumors, she shrugged. "I didn't have much cause to use my powers around those who would gossip." Everyone knew of her talents with animals, fewer knew of her ability to move things, and even fewer still knew of her power to speak to others. It wasn't an ability that she used often, particularly with those she did not trust, as it had a tendency to make people uneasy.
She turned slightly towards the table when she heard the dragon stirring, and gave a slightly amused smile to see the creature devouring her meal instead of it's own. She walked over to the table, leaning against the edge, and ran a finger down his spiny back, making no attempt to stop the hungry creature. "I was born with some magic, but I wasn't a true mage. I've always been able to hear the mind's of animals." When she was younger, that was all she could do. "My mother gave her magic to me when I was older; it amplified my abilities with animals, made it so I could speak with them. That's also how I received my other powers." [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 18:45:11 GMT -5
Viktor watched her closely while she begin to talk; but then his attention was distracted by the movements of the man eating beast. He said nothing to interrupt her story but his hand came out to gesture toward the sight; though to silently protect that beast eating on the table; or eating her meal he wasn't sure. It had been out less then a day; and she was already making it feel at home here! Bloody hell! She didn't even plan to be here forever; what would she do when she left?
If she left. He wasn't sure that her mother could ever claim her back; and he was growing less willing to send her back. "And this . . . gifting . . . makes your magic stronger?" He asked trying to understand; and growing more at ease then he had been while she was in his head; and while he was misunderstanding her powers.
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 19:13:35 GMT -5
She glanced back towards the creature when he gestured towards it eating her food, and with a slight sigh, she picked him up, pulling him away from the food. He made a heart wrenching croon of disappointment, but she carried him over to the fireplace, where the bowl of raw scraps had been left out for him. She knelt down next to the fire and set him down next to the bowl, and he approached it cautiously, and gave a sniff, before he growled and turned away. Syren sighed, sending him a chastising thought, before she showed him to cook it himself. Dragons didn't like raw meat.
Once he was perched over the bowl, focused on blowing wisps of flame and smoke over his dinner, she looked back up to the Winter King. "I think so. Most mages can't speak to creatures like dragons...they're too much like humans, but too different at the same time." The minds of dragons were difficult to explain, because they were more intelligent than any animal she'd ever known, and yet they were so savage and unhuman at the same time. "I might be the only one who can." If there was anyone else who could, wouldn't they know about it? She had never even heard of a mage who tried. [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 20:00:57 GMT -5
He had not heard of a Mage who could talk to dragons; and he knew such a thing would be known. Mages were more accepted in the kingdom he was from; and even welcomed in some towns. Had there been one who could talk to dragons then then then the kings would have wanted them.
The kings would have wanted her.
His faced altered as the thought came to him; and he realized that if one controlled dragons then they held the most powerful of weapons. It mattered not what they came against; a dragon was stronger and could outlast most armies in a fight. No one here had yet to learn how to kill them. If they knew what she could do; then they would either want her or want to kill her to remove the power they think he controlled.
Though he knew she would not never controlled like that; and it had not even entered his mind to attempt it. "Do you know what will come for you should this become known?" He asked; not liking the idea of others coming for her. She belonged here now; or would until her mother made claim. If she even could.
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 20:25:22 GMT -5
Syren had never even considered that her powers could be a weapon; she hadn't thought of the baby dragon as a weapon, either. She didn't think that way, about how to use animals to her advantage. They were creatures with a mind and a will of their own, and while she could use her powers to care for them, play with them, and even train them, imposing her will on them went against her nature. So the thought that someone might try to use her, to use the dragons... that hadn't occurred to her either.
Her expression changed from one of musing to one of concern when he asked his question, as she realized what he meant. Syren had never considered herself a weapon, or a danger to anyone. Would she be seen as a threat to be destroyed? Or a prize to be claimed? Either thought left her cold. She didn't like the idea that she, and by extension, the dragons she could speak to, could be used like a tool, to be discarded at someone else's whim. "But you wouldn't let them take me." She said it as a statement, but looking up at him with curious eyes, it was clear that it was also a question; would he let them take her if they came? [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 20:56:59 GMT -5
Her words gained her all his attentions; and he no longer even looked at the dragon ruining the table. She would ask this of him? Trust him not to use her for gain? He had thought she would be eager to use this to hold him away; or demand she be allowed to return to her mother to be safe. "The northern stronghold cannot be breached by an army." He explained; knowing she would understand all too well how the winds and cold torn a body down. Even if you came with food and layers; the human body could only take so much. No one could last out there for too long; and before they had time to do a proper siege; the weather would kill them.
However; as their doors were always opened to any who make it this far; men could come and go without much fuss. If one came and claimed to need shelter; layed low and watched her movements. "While you are under my care; Syren; I will let nothing happen to you that you do not wish. On that you have my word." He would protect her. If she believed him he did not know. If she trusted him; he did not know. "Do you still wish to return home?" He asked; not even sure why the hell he was opening himself up to this one. She had to know he would not allow it; that if she did the dragon would have to stay for Summer Land was too warm for it. That her mother could not protect her; for she was loosing faith among her people as it was. Yet he wanted to know.
|
|
Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
|
Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 23:01:20 GMT -5
The Summer Land army had been trying for weeks to get in here, to take her back, and even motivated by pride and her mother's temper, they hadn't managed it. And she had experienced the toll the cold took on a person firsthand, so she had some idea what they were up against. Laying siege to the fortress was deadlier to those outside than to those who waited inside, so she wasn't too worried about an army rolling in to claim or kill her.
Against her better judgement... she did trust him when he promised not to let any harm come to her. She looked down to the dragon, now happily munching the scraps he had just finished burning to a crisp, and ran her finger down his spine to hide the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. She didn't look up when he asked if she wished to return home, although her eyes widened slightly as she considered it. Summer Land was still home... it would always be her home. But for weeks now, she'd been slowly losing hope of ever seeing it again.
She heard the soldiers talking sometimes, how they spoke of the Summer Land forces waning, how few of them actually reached the castle, and how easily they fell. She hated hearing about it, the deaths of her people, and she wanted it to just end. She wished she could tell her mother to stop, but she had no way to get a message to her, and she didn't know if she would listen if she could. "I miss my home," she answered after some consideration, "but it's not so bad here." She added, considering it was a kingdom of crooks and criminals, it could be a lot worse. [/color]
|
|
|
Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 27, 2013 21:08:16 GMT -5
Not so bad here; she said. Viktor watched her; still ignoring the damn dragon that had ruined the table. She had not looked at him when he spoke so he wasn't sure how to take her meaning; if she was willing to stay because she had too; or if she was willing to stay because of the people and how they'd grown on her. He would have tried to use this as a reason to tempt her to his bed; but the dragon kept him a few feet away. It might be willing to play nice with her; but he knew the damn thing would try to bite him once he got close.
"Syren; come here." He called her by name when he was pleased with her; and Lady Summer tended to be what he called when he was annoyed and trying to hide it. Sometimes he even called her Little Mage; when she said something so Mage like that proved how little she knew of the real world and how men worked; especially the men in the North.
|
|